Multisegment balloon protector for dilatation catheter

Abstract

A multisegment balloon protector, includes several protectors each of which covers and tightly fits over a portion of the length of a balloon of a dilatation catheter.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of covering a deflated balloon positioned adjacent a distal end of a balloon catheter, the method comprising: positioning a first protector over a first expandable segment of the deflated balloon; and   positioning a second protector over a second expandable segment of the deflated balloon, the second segment being located distally of the first segment.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first protector has a first inner diameter, and the second protector has a second, smaller inner diameter. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: connecting together the first and second protectors in end-to-end relationship.   
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein the connecting is provided by: a male connector carried by one of the first and second protectors; and   a female connector carried by the other protector.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein the male connector is located at a distal end of the first protector and the female connector is located at a proximal end of the second protector. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second protectors are formed of polytetrafluorethylene. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising: positioning a third protector over a third expandable segment of the balloon which is located distally of the second segment.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second protectors are first and second tube sections, respectively. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first, and second tube sections have approximately equal outer diameters, and wherein the second tube section has an inner diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the first tube section. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 8 wherein the first tube section is longer than the second tube section and wherein the second tube section has an outer diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the first tube section. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first tube section has a length approximately equal to a length of the balloon. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10 wherein the second tube section has a outwardly projecting lip at a distal end. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 1 wherein the second protector has a portion which is adapted to extend into a distal end portion of the first protector. 
     
     
       14. In combination: a balloon catheter having a shaft and a deflated balloon attached to the shaft at a distal end of the shaft; and   a multipart balloon protector covering the deflated balloon, the balloon protector comprising:   a first protector covering a first expandable segment of the balloon; and   a second protector covering a second expandable segment of the balloon, wherein the second segment of the balloon is located distally of the first segment.   
     
     
       15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the first protector has a first inner diameter, and the second protector has a second, smaller inner diameter. 
     
     
       16. The combination of claim 14 wherein the first and second protectors are connected together in end-to-end relationship. 
     
     
       17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the second protector has a female connector portion at a proximal end into which a distal end of the first protector is inserted. 
     
     
       18. The combination of claim 14 wherein the balloon protector further comprises: a third protector covering a third expandable segment of the balloon.   
     
     
       19. The combination of claim 14, wherein the first and second protectors are first and second tube sections, respectively. 
     
     
       20. The combination of claim 19 wherein the first and second tube sections have approximately equal outer diameters, and wherein the second tube section has an inner diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the first tube section. 
     
     
       21. The combination of claim 19 wherein the first tube section has a length approximately equal to a length of the balloon and wherein the second tube section is shorter than the first tube section and has a portion which is positioned within the first tube section. 
     
     
       22. The combination of claim 21 wherein the second tube section has an outwardly projecting lip at a distal end. 
     
     
       23. In combination: an angioplasty dilation balloon catheter having a shaft with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the shaft, the balloon being deflated and wrapped about a core which extends through the balloon;   a first balloon protector covering a proximal expandable portion of the balloon, the first balloon protector having a first inner diameter; and   a second balloon protector covering a distal expandable portion of the balloon, the second balloon protector having a second, smaller inner diameter.   
     
     
       24. The combination of claim 23 wherein the first and second balloon protectors are connected together in end-to-end relationship. 
     
     
       25. The combination of claim 23 wherein the second balloon protector has a female connector portion at a proximal end into which a distal end of the first balloon protector is inserted. 
     
     
       26. The combination of claim 23, wherein the first and second balloon protectors are first and second tube sections, respectively. 
     
     
       27. The combination of claim 23 wherein the first and second tube sections have approximately equal outer diameters, and wherein the second tube section has an inner diameter which is less than an inner diameter of the first tube section. 
     
     
       28. The combination of claim 23 wherein the first tube section has a length approximately equal to a length of the balloon and wherein the second tube section is shorter than the first tube section and has a portion which is positioned within the first tube section. 
     
     
       29. The combination of claim 23 wherein the second tube section has an outwardly projecting lip at a distal end. 
     
     
       30. In combination: an angioplasty dilation balloon catheter having a shaft with an inflatable balloon at a distal end of the shaft, the balloon being deflated and wrapped about a core which extends through the balloon; and   a multisegment balloon protector formed by a plurality of separable tubular members each of which covers and tightly fits over a different expandable portion of the deflated balloon.